Legend of Zang Hai Episode 36 Recap, Plot

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> Legend of Zang Hai Recap

Zang Hai submitted his resignation to the Cabinet, planning to leave the capital with Xiang Antu, Gao Ming, and the others once the emperor approved. Xiang Antu dismissed the maids and servants from the residence. Early the next morning, Zang Hai began packing, only to discover that Gao Ming was not home. Upon asking, he learned that Gao Ming had gone to buy horses to pull the luggage.

Gao Ming returned with Zhao Bingwen and brought Zang Hai directly to the slums of the capital, prompting Zang Hai to make a new choice. Seeing the ragged refugees stirred deep unease in Zang Hai’s heart. Zhao Bingwen explained the current state of Great Yong: corruption rampant in officialdom, continuous natural disasters, displaced refugees, and rampant cheating in the imperial exams leaving the people in misery. Kuai Duo used to provide relief to disaster victims during her life.

Zhao Bingwen urged Zang Hai to stay and help him root out corruption and serve the people. Watching Zhao Bingwen’s departing figure, Zang Hai broke into a cold sweat. He had long suspected that Shi Yiping was not the third enemy but lacked solid evidence. He had conspired with Xiang Antu to use resignation as bait to lure the real culprit out.

The third enemy, wanting the bronze fish in Zang Hai’s possession, would certainly try to keep him close in order to kill him at any moment. Zhao Bingwen’s desperate effort to retain Zang Hai in the Cabinet confirmed Zang Hai’s suspicion that he was the third enemy. Xiang Antu suspected that Gao Ming and Zhao Bingwen were in cahoots. Zang Hai intended to stay close to Zhao Bingwen and wait for the right moment to act.

That night, Gao Ming urgently visited Zhao Bingwen, expressing concern that Zang Hai might not be suited for Cabinet work. Zhao Bingwen, worried that Zang Hai would suffer the same fate as Kuai Duo, decided to keep Zang Hai close to ensure his safety. He pressed Gao Ming to find out the whereabouts of the third bronze fish from Zang Hai as soon as possible. Zang Hai officially reported for duty at the Cabinet, receiving special attention from Zhao Bingwen.

Zang Hai diligently carried out his duties, never daring to slack off. He carefully reviewed the financial records from recent years, all signed by Zhao Bingwen. Zang Hai found that Zhao Bingwen was an honest and upright official, yet he remained wary and continued investigating him secretly. The Eighth Young Lady visited Xiang Antu and instantly recognized the "Scenery of Mount Yuren" painting as her father Zhao Bingwen’s.

Curious how it ended up with Zang Hai, Xiang Antu explained that the painting had been confiscated from Shi Yiping’s home and Zang Hai had requested it from the emperor. Zang Hai requested disaster relief funds from Zhao Bingwen, who feared corrupt officials would embezzle them. Zhao Bingwen planned to petition the emperor to cut officials’ salaries and lectured Zang Hai at length on the principles of governance.

Xiang Antu told Zang Hai about the painting, and he too found the situation suspicious. The Eighth Young Lady returned home to look for the painting, but it was already gone—only an empty box remained. Zhao Bingwen explained that he had gifted it to Shi Yiping and advised her to stop performing scripts and instead stay home and study needlework. He ordered the steward Zhao Geng to have someone keep a close watch on her every move.

Zang Hai worked late into the night and still couldn’t finish his tasks. From a colleague, he learned that during his lifetime, Shi Yiping had always been at odds with both Cao Jingxian and Zhuang Luyin. Zang Hai mistakenly believed Shi Yiping had a close relationship with Cao Jingxian. However, the colleague, who had served Shi Yiping for many years, knew the two were irreconcilable enemies and presented a roster compiled by Shi Yiping before his death.

While flipping through it, Zang Hai discovered that before entering the palace, Cao Jingxian had been named Lu Min. From an old eunuch, Zang Hai learned that Lu Min had castrated himself before entering the palace—he had volunteered to become a eunuch. Zang Hai also found out that Lu Min had studied at the Great Yong Academy. Zang Hai went to the Great Yong Academy to check the student records and indeed found Lu Min’s name.

He also discovered that Zhao Bingwen and Zhuang Luyin had been Lu Min’s classmates. Exhausted from long days of early starts and late returns, Zang Hai became distant, prompting Gao Ming to complain about their growing estrangement. When Zang Hai casually asked Gao Ming about his future plans, Gao Ming said he just wanted to stay by Zang Hai’s side. Zang Hai became certain that Zhao Bingwen was the third enemy.

He planned to kill Zhao Bingwen to avenge his family. Xiang Antu respected his decision. Zang Hai asked her to prepare—he intended to invite Zhao Bingwen over the next day to uncover the truth.

Episode 35 Recap

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